SPEEDER RIDES AT THE HERITAGE PARK START

MARCH 11

MARCH 2006

WCRA NEWS

WCRA News, Page 2 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE The Annual General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 1930 hours at the Rainbow Creek Station, Confederation Park in Burnaby. The February General Meeting will follow. Please make every effort to attend this important annual meeting. Entertainment will be announced at the meeting and will depend on time available. ON THE COVER This photo, by Floyd Yeats (and from the files of Lance Camp) shows locomotive servicing at CPR’s Alyth facility in Calgary in the 1940’s, the topic of stories by Bill Yeats both last month and this month. For more details, the descriptions of this and other photos begins on page 29 of this issue. MARCH CALENDAR • West Coast Railway Heritage Park Open daily 1000 through 1700k • Saturday, February 25—Heritage Tea in the Brightbill House—604-898-9336 • Saturday, March 11—Deadline for items for the April 2006 WCRA News • Saturday, March 11 to Sunday, March 19—Spring Break activities at the Heritage Park,

• NEW Speeder Rides daily, $5 per person / $12 family • NEW Model Railway Workshops March 13 and March 15, Ages 8 and up

• Sunday, March 12—Western Rails Show at the Cameron Rec. Centre in Burnaby, open 0900—1600, Western Canada’s largest railroadiana show

• Tuesday, March 14—Tours Committee meets, contact Bernie at 604-325-0923 • Tuesday, March 28—WCRA General Meeting, 1930 hours, Rainbow Creek Station

The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia railway history. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. We are a non-profit British Columbia society, registered as a Canadian charity. Individual membership in the WCRA is $50.00 per year, family membership is $60.00. New! E Members (electronic newsletter) are $35 individual and $45 family. Other membership categories are: - Junior Member (age 16 and under ) $ 25 - Sustaining Member $100 (tax receipt) plus membership type regular fee - Life Member (one time fee) $700 individual life / $1,200 family life All memberships include the monthly newsletter, Heritage Park admission, mini rail rides and discounts on food and merchandise. The Association holds a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at 1930 hours in Burnaby at Rainbow Creek Station in Confederation Park. Apply through www.wcra.org or mail to WCRA, PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2.

WCRA News, Page 3

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY THIS MONTH Your editor apologizes for a couple of errors in the February issue. First, we omitted all of the Royal Hudson donors whose contributions came in between November 15 and November 30, 2005—you are all listed in this issue to get us right up to date. Also, one of our donors listed on page 11 last month should have been Len Brown. March will be an exciting month at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park as we introduce our new “Speeder Rides” - a full scale but unique railway operation from the Mac Norris Station during Spring Break week, March 11—19, 2005. This adds another new activity for Heritage Park guests, and where else can you come and go for a speeder ride? Our speeder train will have three units, seats with mandatory seat belts, professional certified operators and will operate within the confines of the Heritage Parks’ mainline track.. This will add a new fun dimension and will also operate at various times throughout the year to provide another railway ride experience. Lastly, to all who were involved (whomever you were) in my nomination and subsequent winning the award of Business Person of the Year (see page 27) from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, my heartfelt thanks. It is truly an honour. What’s most important, however, is that our West Coast Railway Heritage Park is being recognized for its tremendous contribution to the Squamish community. That is the result of a truly outstanding team effort from all our staff and volunteers. My hats are off to all of you for the great work we have done, and continue to do.

Don ASSOCIATION NEWS FROM THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING • 45 members and guests were present, at our Annual Awards Dinner, Colin Dathan

chaired the meeting: • Colin announced that Don Evans had been named Business Person of the Year in

Squamish by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce • Don Evans provided the Executive Director’s Report, commenting also on finances and

the Heritage Park activities and events • Colin Dathan talked about the 374 Pavilion and asked for volunteer help there • Paul Roy wrapped up Christmas at Canada Place, thanking the volunteers and reporting

that the event was not as financially successful for us as in past years

WCRA News, Page 4 • Jeremy Davy noted that membership has now signed up 12 on the new e memberships • Bernie Tully requested help with the February Mount Pleasant Lions Model RR show as

well as for Western Rails on March 12. • Ron Anstey talked about he collection, noting the new roofs had been applied to both the

Marjatta and the Alberta. • Bill Johnston noted that tours are starting to fill—the Spirit of Washington is well along

and the White Pass & Yukon is selling well. • Bob Hunter is back—and he was welcomed back from Vancouver Island by the group.

Bob reported that he plans to resume volunteering at the Heritage Park archives with a particular focus on the David Wilkie Collection, and that he expects some support may be coming from the Vancouver Island groups to help with that project. (great news)

• Colin Dathan reminded members that February 28 will be the WCRA’s Annual General Meeting, and also noted that the Rotary / WCRA Auction has been set for Friday, May 12.

• Don Evans provided a brief overview of the progress on the new Roundhouse and Conference Centre; schematic drawings and the architectural model were available for members to review during the meeting break.

• Dorothea updated us on her fundraising efforts for the Royal Hudson. • Ryan Cruickshank and Bill Marchant presented their Trackside Reports. • Visitors were welcomed, the February calendar reviewed, and a raffle was held. • Entertainment was CN Police’s Norm Weitzel, who provided and interesting talk and

railroad security post 9/11. WCRA TRIVIA # 206 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank The first railway in Newfoundland opened for traffic on November 1, 1884 operating between St. Johns and Harbour Grace. What was the railway and who was the famous person that drove the last spike? (for answer, see Credit Lines) YOU KNOW YOU’RE A RAILFAN WHEN……. ………….the mere sight of a level burm in the distance causes you to pull over to determine whether or not it might be an abandoned rail bed. MEMBER NEWS Our sympathies to our Chair Craig McDowall on the passing on of his sister Darcy on December 16, 2005. NEW MEMBERS The WCRA welcomes new members Michael McLoughlin & family of West Vancouver, and returning members Robert Hunter of Coquitlam, Marnie Lee & family of Whistler, and Galen Olsen & Lorraine Campbell family of Britannia Beach. (J.D.)

WCRA News, Page 5 Lastly, a spelling correction from last month’s welcome—it should have read Dave Hails & family of Garibaldi Highlands. PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP Memberships with a December 31 expiry date. This is the largest single group of renewals in the year. As I write this in early February there are still many members who have not renewed. We would appreciate your considering renewing as soon as possible and not waiting for the 3 month grace period to run out. That way the work load can be spread over a couple of months and your membership remains in good standing. Please check your newsletter label. If your membership expired November 30, 2005 this will be your last issue. (J.D.) Renewals are being accepted for memberships with the E–Newsletter Option. The fees are - for an E-Individual membership $35.00, and an E-Family $45.00 (see below) (J.D.) WCRA INTRODUCES “E MEMBERSHIPS” The West Coast Railway Association is now accepting new and renewal “E Memberships” at both the individual and family levels. E memberships are for members who would be delighted to save some money on their membership by accessing their monthly newsletter only on-line. The WCRA benefits by saving the cost of printing and mailing a paper newsletter—everyone wins. We’re happy to report that several members have renewed this way and are shifting to the electronic newsletter option. Update on Memberships with E-Newsletter Option-Work is proceeding towards developing the secure Members Only area of the website. The necessary software has now been delivered and installed. Before this area is implemented, though, there is still work to be done on site modifications to set up the appropriate database information relating to the password process. In the meantime the current issues of Newsletters will continue to be accessible on the open part site through a link on the Home Page. If you are requesting to renew with an E-Newsletter Option please ensure that you include your e-mail address with the renewal and help us by keeping it current with us so that we can keep in contact with you. (J.D.) Plans are for current newsletter issues to go into a new Members Only section of the website, accessible by password. Past issues will be generally posted on the site at some later point—as yet to be determined. Note that all members will have the ability to access the Members Only section of the site. We will advise all our members once this change is ready—for now the newsletters are accessible on the website for all. WCRA News

WCRA News, Page 6 The new E membership rates are a $15 discount from the price of current individual or family membership rates. So an individual E Membership will cost $35 a year and a family E Membership will cost $45 a year. E members still get a membership card and all benefits, such as unlimited admission to the Heritage Park, free mini rail, general meeting attendance and votes—but they will get their newsletter electronically. WCRA will send E Members an e mail each month letting them know when the latest issue of the newsletter is posted on www.wcra.org for their viewing and downloading as they wish. WESTERN RAILS—SUNDAY, MARCH 12 The 24th Annual WESTERN RAILS Show – Canada’s Largest Railroadiana Show is coming soon to Cameron Rec Centre, 9523 Cameron Street in Burnaby (behind Lougheed Mall). The show is March 12th , 0900k to 1600k. There is something for everyone whether you’re into Collectibles, Models Railroad hardware or Timetables. It doesn’t matter if you’re Buying, Selling, or just looking. For those who can’t decide try a ride on the Mini Rail while you think about it. Admission: Families $6.00; Adults $3.00; Seniors & Students $2.00; Children under 6 free. Mark March 12th on your Calendar. The show is supported by the West Coast Railway Association. (J.D.)

WESTERN RAILS - Help Wanted. Have some spare time March 11th or 12th???? Three groups of WCRA members at the show can use your help: • Sunday Mar 12th

WCRA Booth – if you can help staff the booth during the Show contact Bernie Tully at 604 325 –0923 or email btully@telus.net.

• Saturday Mar 11 &/or Sunday Mar 12th

West Coast Mini Rail needs help with: Setup on Saturday Afternoon; Running the train (if qualified) during the show Sunday; and Take down on Sunday at 1600k.

• The Western Rails Show Committee needs help with: Setup on Saturday Afternoon; General Show duties like Admission Ticket Sales, Raffle Ticket Sales and Site Security all day Sunday; and Take down 1600k to 1800k Sunday. If you can help out with Western Rails Show duties or Mini Rail contact Jeremy Davy at (250) 890-3233 or email westernrails@wcra.org. (J.D.) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 374 PAVILION We still need assistance with volunteer staffing at the 374 Pavilion in Vancouver. Our

WCRA News, Page 7 thanks to several of you who have now stepped forward and volunteered a day or two. The 374 Pavilion, located at the Roundhouse Community Centre on Pacific Blvd. in the Yaletown area of Vancouver, exhibits historic locomotive #374 which pulled the first passenger train into the city on May 23, 1887. Duties include opening and closing the Pavilion, and guiding guests who visit to see the locomotive and other exhibits at the site. Parking is provided for volunteers, as well as a gift certificate for some food at Urban Fare across the street. Please consider giving a short day of your time to this important activity. As we go to press, we still average one day a week that the Pavilion is closed and we need to change that. Our goal is to see this great exhibit maintained and available to the public on a consistent schedule seven days a week. If you could volunteer to help for even just one day, please call Matt at the office at 604-681-4403. (M.C.) VOLUNTEER HOURS NEEDED It’s that time of year again when we need to record the volunteer hours you have put in on behalf of WCRA throughout the 2005 year. Last year over 29,000 hours were recorded—could we make it to 30,000 this year? It has been a very active and busy year, from Day Out With Thomas to Christmas mini rail trains, there have been a series of significant volunteer based events. Remember, any time spent at WCRA activities or projects counts—the only exception is attendance at the monthly general meetings. Have you tour guided this year? Have you helped at an event? Put in hours at the 374 Pavilion or the Heritage Park? Have you worked on a restoration project, sorted items in the archives, hosted at the Brightbill House? Volunteers are what the WCRA is all about, and we need to count your hours in. Volunteering helps us with grant applications, helps us with community involvement, and in general is a huge asset to all of us. So, please let us know of your time spent—it can simply be e mailed to cdathan@direct.ca , delivered to us at the Heritage Park or a General Meeting. However you let us know, count yourself in for the time you gave us in 2005. (C.D.) MILEAGE RATE FOR 2006 INCREASED The West Coast Railway Association has increased the rate paid for use of volunteer vehicles for WCRA business to $.45 per kilometer. Many members who travel on WCRA projects submit their mileage as a donation and are tax receipted for those donations. The new rate is effective as of January 1, 2006. Details on the vehicle use policy and vehicle logs etc. are unchanged except for the rate, direct any questions to Matt at the WCRA office at 604-681-4403.

WCRA News, Page 8 CP ROUTES FOR MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR A Calgary software company has introduced software for the popular Microsoft Train Simulator program for the CPR’s Kicking Horse and Rogers Pass routes. If you are interested, visit www.mapleleaftracks.com for more details. (J.P.) CHRISTMAS AT CANADA PLACE WRAP UP Christmas at Canada Place is over for another year, and the results this time were a little disappointing. The West Coast Mini Rail, located this year outside on the West Promenade,

carried just a little over 7,000 passengers and netted the WCRA around $11,000. This is substantially lower than in previous years, and plans for future years are now being reviewed with Canada Place Corporation. What is very

clear is the exceptional efforts by our many volunteers in what could only be termed difficult conditions. The weather was cold, but dry the first week, but then the week before Christmas it was very, very wet. This took a definite toll on attendance as well as made for difficult operating conditions. A special thank you dinner was held at the New China Kitchen restaurant in Coquitlam on January 18th, 2006 and Paul Roy spoke to all the volunteers (photo above) thanking them for their contributions (as listed in our February 2006 issue plus Arthur Irving and Jim Saunders). Without our volunteer help we would not, of course, been able to make the operation available or to have raised the funds for the WCRA. In another matter, your editor used some language in his story last month where the Christmas at Canada Place windows were referred to as “second rate” This clearly was not my intention, but is how it could have been perceived. My intention was to describe the size of the San Jose event as huge, but not to knock the Canada Place event in any way. The preservation of the Woodward’s windows and their presentation here each Christmas is an incredible contribution to this community. I apologize if anyone took this the wrong way.

WCRA News, Page 9 “LAST RUNS” VIDEO STILL AVAILABLE The “Last Runs on Vancouver Island” VHS video / DVD described in previous issues of WCRA News is still available to WCRA members, and each purchase triggers a donation to the Royal Hudson Preservation Fund. Hugh Fraser, WCRA member and the creator of this video, has done a fine job showcasing the last runs of the TEV Princess Marguerite, CN operations in Victoria and at Cowichan Bay, and CP Rail on Store Street in Victoria. All proceeds from sales of this video go to railway preservation activities with the BCRHA on Vancouver Island and the WCRA’s Royal Hudson. I have my copy—it’s great watching. Get yours now—Hugh Fraser, 1246 Judge Place, Victoria, BC, V8P 2C6 or call 250-385-2760 or e mail hmfraser@pacificcoast.net (H.F.) THANKS • To Sharon Proctor for the donation of an old 1908 Train Engineers’ book for the library.

The book is titled Modern Locomotive Engineering and the author is Calvin F. Swingle.

COLLECTION MARJATTA AND ALBERTA ROOFS COMPLETED

A major step has been completed on the continuing work to restore the CPR Alberta, and at the same time the long awaited new roof has also been applied to CN Coach 5161 Marjatta. (photo left, Randy Shimell))

WCRA News, Page 10 The stars aligned with a combination of acceptable temperature conditions, dry shop space and resources and the work was completed mid January.

The cars then swapped positions on the shop tracks for additional work on the Marjatta, including installation of new clerestory panels and repairs to window frames, and the continuing major work project on the Alberta business car. (photo left, Marjatta’s new roof sees daylight for the first time, Randy Shimell)

BRITISH COLUMBIA FEATURED IN “MODERN DOG” MAGAZINE The WCRA’s business car British Columbia was featured in a fashion photo shoot, published in Modern Dog Magazine. The six page high quality colour section was in the magazine’s Winter 2005 / 06 issue and features models in the latest fashions in various sections of the car (and on the open platform) always, with a small dog or dogs included. The WCRA received a nice cheque for the shoot as well as recognition in the article.

ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION & FUND ROYAL HUDSON PROJECT PROGRESS Work during January included further re-boring telltale holes in stay-bolts, cleaning threads for stay-blots and caps, and finishing minor repairs in the firebox and on tube-sheets. Volunteers Don Lawrence, Richard Courage, Rob Misjak, Bob Florence, Pat Hosford continued to help Trevor Mills on the 2860. Ex-BCR boilermaker Joe Klausner also assisted with some metal fabricating and fitting. Fabrication of super-heaters has commenced at Aggressive Tube Bending as cast and fabricated fittings have been completed and delivered to them. Refitting of tubes and flues will commence in mid February after boiler interior is coated and all required parts delivered. Steam expert Doyle McCormack will return to assist as will ex-BCR steam fitter Rob Marlatt. Media coverage by Damien Inwood in the Province newspaper has resulted in a number of WCRA News

WCRA News, Page 11 inquiries and offers of assistance with the project. Additional volunteers are always needed for the 2860 and other projects - anyone interested in helping can call Singh Biln at the Heritage Park or at 604-220-1344. (S.B.) ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION FUND We acknowledge our monthly contributors Dave Walker, Richard Tubbessing, and Ernie & Lynn Ledgerwood, as well as donors Elizabeth & John Fitzpatrick $200, Hugh Fraser $130, Valerie Glassock $40, Paul & April Turner $200, Ewald Kiel $25, Stan Tyson $100, Norm Shepherd $500, Bill Moyseyuk $30, Peter Payan $30, Mel Bishop $50, Jim Clawson $59, F & J Allder $20, Peter Goodwin $100, Bob Daines $500, Rex P. Brown $50, Malcolm Tait $100, John O’Neill $100, Eileen Abram $50, Jan Seckel $50, L. Chamness $25, Doug Race $100, Harold Hinson $100, Dorothy Dinham $300, Mary Cornish $50, Elmer Williams $25, Patricia Potter $25, Maria Crickmer $25, Gordon MacLeod $100, Charles Dick $50, Thomas Mark $50, Miriam Macdonald $25, Henry Ewert $100, Kenneth Schwartz $25, Paul Crozier-Smith $40, Mervin Smith $100, Hans Alderliesten $20, Earl Swart $50, John Lowe $50, Richard Harvey $100, Earl Roberts $25, William Spencer $50, Donald Brinton $50, CP Erridge $20, Isabella Kilgour $15, Harold MacLean $25, Tom Allam $50, Esther Roach $25, Dave Emmington $82, and Diane Moorhouse $500- bringing our total to $121,782 raised to date. Please note that most of these donations were added to the total in a previous month, but the names were inadvertently not run here. We should be all up to date now! Remember, you can make a donation on line through www.wcra.org . Add in the Western Economic Diversification Canada grant and the Province of BC $100,000 TFA grant and our total leaps forward to $331,782. ROYAL HUDSON MODEL DONATED A wonderful O scale model of Royal Hudson #2860 has been donated to the West Coast Railway Association, and has been added to our Royal Hudson display at the Heritage Park. The Weaver collectible model is perfectly scaled and can operate on O scale track, ours is Number 62 of just 438 produced. Our thanks to Alan Cruickshank for facilitating this acquisition and to a privet donor for funding the purchase.

FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – JANUARY 2006 January was a tough month for fundraising—as it usually is following all the activity leading up to year end for tax receipts and the post Christmas period. Still, we were active….

WCRA News, Page 12 Funding Asks Made · One ask for Royal Hudson major funding made Major Funding Received · $130 donation to Royal Hudson from Last Runs Video · Direct Mail donations received January $2,304 · ND Lee donation $5,000 · $1,444 Life Insurance Premium donated · $1,200 donation to purchase model Royal Hudson · $2,000 donation to Marjatta Month Total $12,078 Year to Date Total $109,132 Other Significant Activities · Presentation to Squamish Council January 18 re Roundhouse and future of Park · Presentation to Heritage Park staff re future direction · Met with a private operator re possible new bus service to Heritage Park for 2006 · Named Business Person of the Year for Squamish

WEST COAST RAIL TOURS A NEW YEAR FOR TOURS Our Tours Committee is pleased to introduce its program of tours for 2006. The new Whistler Mountaineer / Rocky Mountaineer services to Whistler and beyond to Quesnel and Jasper are being incorporated into our program and we will continue with the popular White Pass & Yukon package as well. Members are reminded that we have new 2006 brochures now available, including Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Trafalgar Tours to Hawaii, across North America and to Australia / New Zealand as well as major cruise lines. Plan now to get aboard this year for some great rail travel. (B.J.) MALAHAT CIRCLE TOUR (RVI) Daily except Saturday - throughout the year Depart from Pacific Central Station at a time of your choosing aboard Pacific Coach Lines scheduled service to Victoria. We supply vouchers to take you to the Queen Victoria Hotel—a few steps from the bus depot. You are on your own for dinner. Breakfast is served at 7:00 AM in the hotel’s restaurant, then their van shuttles you to the station at 7:40 AM. Board the train for an 8:15 am departure to Qualicum Beach where it arrives at about noon. Enjoy this quaint town with its interesting beaches and restaurants. After lunch (on your own) we ask you to board the train at 2:30 pm and get off at Nanaimo at 3:45 pm. A waiting taxi takes you to Nanaimo’s bus depot for the 4:30 pm departure of Greyhound’s scheduled service to Vancouver. Dinner on the ferry. Arrive at Pacific Central Station at 7:15 pm.

WCRA News, Page 13 $224; Children 2-11 $186; BC Seniors (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only) $186. (Otherwise $224) Single supplement $71 Discovery Coast, Chilcotin, Cariboo Tour by Inside Passage Ferry, Motorcoach and 2 New Trains This is a brand new itinerary using some familiar services combined with new passenger rail experiences through the Cariboo, Whistler and on to Vancouver. (Tour DCW-1) Day 1 - Wednesday, July 5th After pickups in the Vancouver area we make our way in our chartered coach to Vancouver Island via Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, and then on to a new hotel in Port McNeill for the night. Frequent stops for sightseeing are made. A “welcome dinner” is supplied tonight. L, D Day 2 - Thursday, July 6th After an early breakfast we board our motorcoach for Bear Cove where we embark on the “Queen of Chilliwack” Discovery Coast ferry. For the next 13 hours we wind our way through Queen Charlotte Strait, Fitz Hugh Sound, and Burke Channel. Whales and other sea life are sometimes spotted. Arrival at Bella Coola is before 10:30 PM. We go to Hagensborg for two nights. CB Day 3 - Friday, July 7th The day is spent soaking up the area’s history and First Nations culture, predominant in the area - as well as the natural beauty of the region. B, L, D Day 4 - Saturday, July 8th We traverse the wild Chilcotin region after a climb up the infamous “Big Hill” that takes us over the rugged Coastal Mountains. We spend the night in Quesnel. B, L, S Day 5 - Sunday, July 9th An early start sees us boarding the new Rocky Mountaineer service on its “Fraser Discovery Route” which follows the mighty river south to Lillooet. We skirt pristine lakes, climb into the Coast Mountains and spend the night in the Delta Village Suites in Whistler. B, L Day 6 - Monday, July 10th We have a chance to sleep in an enjoy this beautiful mountain village. After lunch we get a coach transfer to the “Whistler Mountaineer” train service for our return to the coast via Howe Sound and Squamish. Tea and a snack are served at your seat. We leave the train in North Vancouver and are transferred to downtown Vancouver ending the tour. Home drop-off included. B, S FARE: Per person sharing: $2195; BC Seniors only, $2135; Single Supplement: $535 OPTION “V”. Go to Victoria on Tuesday July 4th and take the E&N Malahat Dayliner to Nanaimo on Wednesday. We pick you up there at 10:30 AM to continue the tour. Vouchers supplied. Add $165

Note: This new tour will sell out fast because it is limited to only 25 guests. Bookings must be made early and no later than June 1st when full payment is required

WCRA News, Page 14 Vancouver Island Rail & Sail By E&N Rail, coach and “The Queen of the North” This is our popular itinerary featuring the repositioning of “Queen of the North” at the end of its “Inside Passage” season. (Tour VRS-2) Day 1 - Friday, September 29th From Pacific Central Station, Vancouver, we go to Victoria before noon and spend the evening in a comfortable hotel. Includes “welcome dinner” in a good restaurant. D Day 2 - Saturday, September 30th After breakfast we leave by transfer bus at 7:45 AM for the VIA Rail Station and board the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway’s “Malahat Dayliner”. Arrival in Courtenay is at 12:50 PM. Brief stops will be made at Sayward, and at Woss Camp to see the logging railway there. We arrive in Port Hardy at about 6:00 PM and stay in the Port Hardy Inn. B, L Day 3 - Sunday, October 1st We depart our hotel early for the Queen of the North, which sails at 7:30 AM from nearby Bear Cove. Arrival in Tsawwassen is scheduled for 8:30 PM with arrival back into Vancouver about 9:30 PM. We transfer you to locations as close to your home as possible. FARE: Per person sharing: $495; BC Seniors only $475; Single Supplement: $125

Part of a group? Let us quote special pricing for groups of 15 or more and enjoy a mini-cruise with your friends at a very affordable price. We also offer customized itineraries

to other destinations, so give us your thoughts and let us organize it for you

Whitehorse, Yukon and the White Pass & Yukon Route Steam Spectacular!

Visit Canada’s Yukon and “The Scenic Railway of the World”, one of the world‘s most notable civil engineering feats. (Tour WPS-3)

Day 1 - Thursday, June 22 Our group departs Vancouver by Air North at 11:30 AM for Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, on this, the longest day of the year. Flying time is 2-1/2 hours. Upon arrival we are transferred to a downtown hotel for the afternoon and evening. There is much to see and do in this northern capital of 23,000 people. L Day 2 - Friday, June 23 You have the morning free in Whitehorse to visit the many local museums and historical sites. We then leave by motorcoach from the old WP&YR depot for Fraser, BC. Departure is at 1:30 PM (Yukon Time). At Fraser, we board the diesel-hauled passenger service through the White Pass and down to Skagway, Alaska arriving at about 4:30 PM (Alaska time). Our hotel is a short walk from the station. B

WCRA News, Page 15 Day 3 – Saturday, June 24 We leave the WP&YR depot at 8:00 AM behind steam locomotive #73 and spend the day soaking up spectacular mountain railroading. Run-bys and other treats for rail-fans are performed. Return to Skagway is scheduled for about 5:00 PM. This 80 mile round trip includes a 2-hour layover in Bennett, BC, the end of the Chilkoot Trail, where you can participate in a walking tour with a Parks Canada Historian, explore the area’s artifacts and tour the displays in the historic 1903 train station. B, L Day 4 – Sunday, June 25 We leave Skagway at 8:45 AM by motorcoach and climb up from the coast via the South Klondike Highway – a different route up to the White Pass. Our coach drops us in Whitehorse where we have a couple of hours of free time before going to the airport at 2:30 PM for a 3:30 PM Air Canada flight to Vancouver. We also arrange connections to all Canadian cities served by Air Canada, Air North or WestJet Airlines.

All times shown are local; Pacific & Yukon times are one hour later than Alaska time. Passengers are reminded that they should have correct citizenship documentation and

sufficient medical insurance to cover any emergency when traveling in the U.S.A. This tour also runs weekly (Thursdays) from June 1st until August 24th as an

independent, non-escorted tour.

FARE: Per person sharing, $1295. Single Supplement $215. (subject to availability of discounted airfares).

Spirit of Washington Luncheon Train, Returning on Amtrak’s “Cascades” Service

Two train rides in one day, a gourmet lunch, winery tour, and Seattle Day-trip, Saturday, April 22nd (Tour SWA-4) We depart Vancouver by motorcoach with pickups in Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey. We take the I-5 and I-405 south. On arrival in Renton, WA, we board the “Spirit of Washington” Dinner train for a noon departure. A gourmet lunch is served while the train skirts Lake Washington's scenic eastern shoreline, en route to the Woodinville area. On arrival, the Columbia Winery offers a tour and tasting before the train departs for its return trip - when coffee and dessert are served. From Renton, our coach takes us to downtown Seattle and to King St. Station where we board the Amtrak “Cascades” train. This modern, innovative European-style train leaves Seattle for Bellingham at 5:30 PM, skirting Puget Sound affording stunning views of the Olympic Peninsula and the ocean. Snacks (your cost) are available in the bistro car. From Bellingham (8:00 PM), our coach returns us to Vancouver. All other tour and train expenses are included. As this trip always sells out, we suggest booking early. It may be repeated June 17th subject to demand and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Seattle’s King St. Station. L

WCRA News, Page 16

Passengers are reminded that they should have correct citizenship documentation and sufficient medical insurance to cover any emergency when traveling in the U.S.A., even

for a daytrip such as this. FARE: $179 per person for seating in our exclusive scenic dome dining car with a great 360° view. Ask about regular dining car “Salon” seating which may be available for $20 less. Rockies to the Discovery Coast and Vancouver Island, Grand Circle Tour -by coach, unique ferries and a new train This is a brand new itinerary using some familiar services combined with new passenger rail experiences through the Rocky Mountain Trench, and the Cariboo. Includes Bella Coola & Discovery Coast (RGC-5) Option A Day 1 – Thursday, July 6th We leave by Rocky Mountaineer’s RedLeaf service from Vancouver for overnight in Kamloops, following the traditional Fraser River and Thompson Canyons route. B, L Day 2 – Friday, July 7th Reboard the Rocky Mountaineer for the continuation of its service, which follows the North Thompson River, passes majestic Mount Robson and rolls into Jasper at about 6:00 PM. B, L Option B Day 1 – Thursday, July 6th We leave by Greyhound service (fare included) from Vancouver at 6:30 AM, Coquitlam at 6:55 AM and convenient stops in the Fraser Valley before arriving in Jasper at 6:50 PM. Our hotel is reserved for us and we include transfer from the bus station. Day 2 – Friday, July 7th Brewster’s excellent scenic highlights four-hour “Discover Jasper” tour is included this morning. (An alternative is the 9-hour Columbia Icefields tour at an extra $34). Option C Day 0–Wednesday July 5th Fly to Edmonton from Abbotsford or Vancouver on over a dozen convenient flights. (Fare included). A visit to Fort Edmonton Park is strongly suggested. Day 1 – Thursday, July 6th Take VIA Rail’s “Canadian” departing 8:55 AM to Jasper arriving at 2 PM. Lots of time left for sightseeing today. Hotel and rail fare included. Day 2 – Friday, July 7th Same as Option “B” Day 2 Day 3 - Saturday, July 8th WCRA News

WCRA News, Page 17 We are transferred to the rail station to board the Rocky Mountaineer for its journey along the Rocky Mountain Trench on the “Fraser Discovery” route following the Fraser River past Prince George and south into the Cariboo region. Upon arrival in Quesnel we are transferred by motorcoach to Williams Lake for the evening. B, L Day 4 - Sunday, July 9th After an early breakfast we board our motorcoach for the desolate Chilcotin region, stopping to enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty of the area. A lunch break will be taken in remote Nimpo Lake before ascending 5000 ft Heckman Pass though the Coast Mountains and the descent to the coast via the infamous “Big Hill”. Upon arrival in Bella Coola we will visit their museum and have time for an interpretive program. B, L, D Day 5 - Monday, July 10th We depart our hotel at 6:45 AM by chartered coach and board the 5,600-ton MV ”Queen of Chilliwack”, for departure at 8:00 AM. This unique ferry will surprise you with its friendly crew, tours of the bridge, and various shipboard activities. For the next 13+ hours we wind our way through Burke Channel, Fitz Hugh Sound and Queen Charlotte Strait. We occasionally stop to pick up kayakers or witness a “wet launch” from the car deck of the ship. Whales and other sea life are sometimes spotted. Good meals are available in the ship’s cafeteria. Arrival at Bear Cove near Port Hardy is at approximately 9:30 PM. We transfer to our Port McNeill hotel, about 30 minutes away. Day 6 - Tuesday, July 11th A comfortable morning start sees us travelling through the Nimpkish Valley and on to Qualicum Beach for a relaxing early luncheon in a vintage hotel. We then head to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay for the 3:00 PM BC Ferry sailing to Horseshoe Bay, and on to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station arriving there at about 5:30 PM. CB, L FARES: Per person sharing Option “A”: $2335, Single Supplement: $495. Option “B”: $1745, Single Supplement: $455. Option “C”: $1895, Single Supplement: $485. Option “V”. Go to Victoria for the night on Tuesday July 11th via the E&N Malahat Dayliner. Board the train after lunch at Qualicum Beach at 2:30 PM. From Victoria make your own way back to Vancouver on Wednesday, July 12th. We supply all tickets and vouchers for train, hotel, ferry and PCL motorcoach. Add $165. Single Supplement: $75.

Note: This new tour will sell out fast because it is limited to only 25 guests. Bookings must be made early and no later than June 1st when full payment is required

Two Steam Trains, Fish and Wine We offer two versions and two dates for these popular trips riding behind steam locomotives in the Okanagan region (Tour OKS-6) Day 1 - Friday, September 15th We leave Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station by chartered

WCRA News, Page 18 coach picking up in the Fraser Valley then take Highway 7 on the scenic north side of the Fraser River from Mission to downtown Agassiz and the museum housed in the oldest wooden railroad station in B.C. We follow the Fraser Canyon and stop for lunch at the Hells Gate Air Tram (admission included) where one can walk over the suspension bridge to view fish climbing the fish ladders. On to Skihist Park overlooking Rainbow Canyon of the Thompson River and the railways operating through this most difficult part of the river valley. Kamloops overnight. Try dinner at the Keg Steak House in the renovated Kamloops Railway station. S x 2 Day 2 - Saturday, September 16th Morning transfer to the Kamloops Heritage Railway steam train. We climb from Campbell Creek up into ranching country enroute to Armstrong. There is time to tour the town have lunch and view the steam train leaving. We travel to O'Keefe Ranch for a tour of the restored buildings, and then go to a local winery for a tour and tasting. We have dinner in a fine Kelowna restaurant by Okanagan Lake. CB, L, D Day 3 - Sunday, September 17th We depart at 8:30 AM for Hardy Creek to see fish spawning and then on to the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Our train takes us along the hills overlooking Summerland and onto the Trout Creek Bridge the highest on the former Kettle Valley Railway. Lunch is included today at a local winery followed by a tour and tasting. We then tour the SS Sicamous, the beautifully restored lake steamer. We stay tonight at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino on the south beach of Okanagan Lake. There are lots of options for dinner in the hotel, or by a short walk to downtown Penticton. B, L Day 4 - Monday, September 18th At 9:30 AM depart for the Grist Mill at Keremeos for a tour and lunch. We take the Crowsnest Route back to the coast with stops at a fruit stand, Manning Park, and the Quintette Tunnels on the old KVR line. B, L FARE: Per person sharing: $697 Single Supplement: $163 Or try this shorter more economical version, in June (Tour KHR-7) Day 1 - Friday, June 2nd Depart Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station at 1:00 PM allowing for transfers from Vancouver Island or Amtrak from Seattle. We make pickups through the Fraser Valley to Hope where we take a rest stop and a walk through the Quintette Tunnels on the old KVR line. Then it’s direct to Kamloops for the night in a good riverside motel. S Day 2 - Saturday, June 3rd As per Day 2 in above itinerary, Overnight in Kelowna.CB, L, D Day 3 - Sunday, June 4th This morning depart at 9 AM for the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Our train takes us along the hills overlooking Summerland and onto the Trout Creek Bridge the highest on the former Kettle Valley Railway. After lunch we return directly to Hope and the Fraser Valley to Vancouver in time to make evening ferry and train connections. B, L FARE: Per person sharing: $537 Single Supplement: $113 Vancouver Island's West Coast We travel on Port Alberni's steam train to see a steam-operated sawmill and sail on a vintage

WCRA News, Page 19 coastal supply vessel through the Broken Islands Group to Ucluelet and Pacific Rim National Park Tour (VWC-8) Tuesday: August 15th, Day 1 We depart Vancouver by chartered motorcoach for Horseshoe Bay sailing by BC Ferries to Nanaimo's Departure Bay and are dropped off at the E&N rail station. We board the Malahat Dayliner, have lunch on board, and get off at Courtenay. Our coach meets us and we travel to Coombs Junction Market and Cathedral Grove forest preserve. A stop at the Alberni Valley Museum is also made before checking in at our Port Alberni hotel. Dinner is in a fine waterside restaurant. S, D Wednesday: August 16th, Day 2 We leave the hotel for the short trip to the dock where we check in and board the "Lady Rose" (or "Frances Barkley") coastal supply vessel that services Alberni Inlet. Our scheduled arrival at Ucluelet is 12:30 PM. Lunch is on your own on board the ship. Our coach meets us in Ucluelet where we do a tour of the area and then proceed north through Pacific Rim National Park to Tofino ending up at our luxury seaside resort hotel on McKenzie Beach. We have arranged for a delicious dinner (3 menu choices) in the luxurious "Calm Waters" dining room overlooking the sea. B, D Thursday: August 17th, Day 3 We leave Tofino late morning and stop at the Wickaninnish Visitor centre and take lunch there at an ocean-side restaurant. Stops will be made at scenic overlooks before returning to our Port Alberni Hotel. B, D Friday: August 18th, Day 4 After breakfast we board the Alberni Pacific Railway train for its departure to the McLean Mill National Historic site, (the only steam operated sawmill in Canada). Upon arrival we take a tour of the mill, enjoy the "Tin Pants" musical theatre production, have lunch, then leave for Nanaimo and a late afternoon return to Vancouver. B FARES: (reduced from last year) $688, BC Seniors: $663. Single Supplement: $212. Or: Go to Victoria on Monday August 14th, stay overnight in a downtown hotel, board the "Dayliner" in Victoria on Tuesday and meet the tour on the train in Nanaimo. We supply all tickets and vouchers for train, hotel, ferry, and PCL motorcoach. Add $149, Single Supplement: $71 CPR Steam Through the Rockies A steam lover’s delight, our Canadian Rockies Steam Express tours feature the Canadian Pacific Railway’s heritage steam engine, the 2816 “Empress” on 2 itineraries of your choice (Tour CPR-9) Westbound Tours: Arrive Calgary on dates shown. We arrange air or other means to get you there. Hotels each night and most meals. Day 1 - Tuesday; Calgary - Banff - Lake Louise

WCRA News, Page 20 Day 2 - Wednesday; Lake Louise – Revelstoke Day 3 - Thursday; Revelstoke – Kamloops Day 4 - Friday; Kamloops – Vancouver Dates: Arrival in Calgary on day shown before departure by train the following morning, Mondays on the following dates: October 9th, 2006, May 21st, 2007, June 4th, 2007, June 18th, 2007 Eastbound Tours: Depart Vancouver on dates shown. Day 1 - Monday; Vancouver – Kamloops Day 2 – Tuesday; Kamloops – Revelstoke Day 3 - Wednesday; Revelstoke – Lake Louise Day 4 - Thursday; Lake Louise – Calgary Dates: Departures from Vancouver as below. We fly you back from Calgary to Abbotsford, Vancouver or your choice, at your convenience. Mondays on the following dates: October 16th, 2006 **, May 28th, 2007, June 11th, 2007, June 25th 2007 ** ** Routing via Cranbrook, the Crow’s Nest Pass and Lethbridge - instead of Revelstoke and Lake Louise. FARES: Call 1-800-722-1233 (or locally, 604-524-1011), for pricing and more information MAKE WEST COAST RAIL TOURS YOUR FULL-SERVICE TRAVEL AGENT! Our West Coast Rail Tours travel agency continues to grow. With our IATA status, we can handle all your bookings for air travel as well as cruises, hotel accommodations and—our specialty - rail. We ask you to choose us as your travel agent. Commissions earned on all travel bookings go straight into the WCRA bank for our preservation projects. Contact Bill toll free at 1-800-722-1233, or locally at 604-524-1011 or by e-mail at tours@wcra.org (B.J.)

West Coast Rail Tours - The “Rail” Way to go

WCRA News, Page 21

MOTIVE POWER SHOPS Direct track access to the newly-leased ex-BCR running shop MP1 was completed by January 22nd, allowing 11 of our operating and critical pieces of equipment to be moved under cover. The track connection allows us access to the shops without having to go onto the CN pass track but connection to the pass is maintained. (Photo below, track being constructed).

Then, on a wet January 23rd, Pacific Great Eastern RSC-3 #561 got to work and eleven pieces of the collection moved across the street to indoor protection and upgrade / repair work. (photo below, #561 moves our three F units into the shop)

WCRA News, Page 22 Now in place at MP 1 are the two Budd RDC’s BC 33 / BC 21, FP7A’s 4069 / 1404, F7B #4459, Power Car Macdonald Creek, Coaches Paul D. Roy, Gwendolyn B. McDowall, Porteau, Open Observation Car Henry Pickering, and business car Northern Summit. The MP 1 facility is also being used to store some additional items such as machinery, batteries, locomotive parts, Christmas displays, and models. In addition, Manager Major Projects Singh Biln is continuing to market some of the smaller areas to offset lease costs. So far, 3 tenants have been secured and 2 additional lessors will likely take office/shop space shortly. Negotiations are also continuing with a local college classroom space but their needs are for September or next January and will require some costly improvements. Anyone requiring office, storage or shop space in Squamish should call Singh at the Heritage Park or cell 604-220-1344 to inquire about special members rates.

ROUNDHOUSE & TURNTABLE During the month, project architects Musson Cattell Mackey completed and reviewed the roundhouse schematic design with the project team (Colin Smith, Don Evans, Grant Ferguson, Ron Anstey and Singh Biln). Subsequently, Manager Major Projects Singh Biln met with Park staff to get additional input into the design, and Executive Director Don Evans made a presentation to the local Mayor and Councilors. All stakeholders agree that the design is impressive. Singh has also met with the District of Squamish planning office to initiate the application for a development permit and also continues to monitor ground water table in the turntable area to determine when excavation may commence. While there will certainly be amendments made to the design, we are now at the point where the footprint is agreed on and the core design looks good. A couple of the drawings follow…..

This is the west elevation and would feature the main entrance to the building, which is finished in brick to the north and more contemporary ribbed metal to the south. The south wall is 30 feet high to give a reference, and although the north side is two stories, the roof on this section is sloped. There are both indoor and outdoor viewing balconies on the north side of the building.

WCRA News, Page 23

The north elevation (above) features seven large wood doors of heritage design accessing the seven railway stalls of the building. The south elevation (below, facing Government Road) features the glass wall through which the faces of our collection will greet visitors as they arrive at the Heritage Park.

In the meantime, relocation of equipment and structures in anticipation of the construction is continuing. Direct track access to the MP1 shop was completed by mid-month and 11 pieces of rolling equipment were transferred, allowing for re-positioning of other display equipment for guest access to get under way. The south end of “0” track was cleared for removal. Steam locomotive PGE#2 on Track 4 is being readied for movement as that track has to be shortened as well. In addition, significant amount of artifacts, machinery and components have been moved to MP1 in order to make room for relocating structures. Working with local contractors and benefactors, site staff has developed a strategy to relocate several structures in-house, potentially saving $20,000 in external movers costs. Relocation of structures, services and other infrastructure will continue throughout February. Construction of the turntable will commence first and, at this point, is only dependent upon the weather. The design has been completed and engineering done (a special thanks here to ND Lea for donating $5,000 of their fees back to the WCRA) and we now await the water table to drop to the right level. January hasn’t helped here with a record setting 29 of 31 days in the month with rain! So, the front face of the Heritage Park is now changing almost daily as our collection and exhibits are re-arranged to allow the clearing of the entire front—drop in often and watch!

WCRA News, Page 24 WEST COAST RAILWAY HERITAGE PARK Home of the Royal Hudson SPRING BREAK WEEK—SPEEDER RIDES, MODEL RR Spring Break week, March 11—19, 2006, will introduce several new activities at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park aimed at family participation. Included in this week are all the regular Heritage Park activities, plus the introduction of new Speeder Rides, Model Railway Classes, and a great children’s colouring contest. So, come to the Heritage Park as a family and take in some great fun, specific details follow. Children’s Colouring Contest—Saturday March 11 to Sunday, March 19—for the children out of school, come and participate in our special Spring Break Colouring Contest. The winner will be selected on March 19th and will win a $75 gift certificate for the Heritage park’s great gift shop. NEW! Model Railway Classes—by reservation Monday, March 13 and Wednesday, March 15—Here’s a very special chance for those age 8 and up to learn about building a model railway from our own expert, Chris Forget. The three hour workshops (1:00 to 4:00PM) will be held in our new model railway coach (you will be the very first to see it!) and each participant will construct some items which can either be then placed permanently into our new model railway or taken home for your very own. Classes are limited in size, so pre-registration is required, call 604-898-9336. Price is $20 per child, parents are welcome to participate with their child at no extra cost. (More in the following article below) NEW! Speeder Rides—Saturday, March 11 to Sunday, March 19—There is nowhere else you can ride a railway motorcar (or speeder as they were often known) but now you can at the Heritage Park. We debut our new Speeder rides, operating on our own tracks at the Heritage Park. Our new speeder train is fresh out of the shop and can carry up to 12 passengers each trip. Trips will depart daily during the Spring Break period from the Mac Norris Station, fares are $5 per person and $12 family of four. A whole new railway ride experience that is fun and educational for all. (See page 25 for more) MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBIT COMING ALONG New member and modeler Christopher Forget continues to work wonders on the Skeena River coach as bench-work for the HO model railway layout has been completed and a good portion of the scenery installed. Member Barbara Stover has been applying her artistic talents by painting the realistic looking forests/mountains on the backdrop. Chris ran his first trains in January and continues to extend the areas of operation and number of trains

WCRA News, Page 25 running. (photo left, a HO scale coal train rolls by on the ,mountainside of the newly completed section of the model railway, Randy Shimell photo)

Randy Lucas, Randy Shimell, Trevor Mills, and Tomo’o Oshikawa have all been helping him with much of the carpentry and trades work. The car will be ready for display much sooner than anticipated and will be moved to the Garden Track display area this month. As word of Chris’s progress is spreading, several calls have come in about donating train collections. If you want to donate anything or assist Chris, please call him at the Heritage Park number 604-898-9336 or call Singh Biln at 604-220-1344. (S.B.) MOTORCAR (SPEEDER) RIDES TO DEBUT MARCH 11 It has long been our plan to provide the real railway experience for our visitors by having some sort of a train ride at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. The first “rides” for our guests debuted way back in 1996 when the first West Coast Mini Rail trains started operation. The mini rail has, of course, become one of our key attractions that is enjoyed year round. Last year, we added another dimension by operating a full size train ride aboard our ex BC Rail Budd RDC car BC 33. Although it operated only a few days, the trip was very successful and the Budds will operate in 2006 as well (stay tuned for more). But a new and more economical ride along our full size tracks has always been a plan, and this year we are delighted to introduce our newest attraction—Motorcar (or Speeder) rides along the mainline track at the Heritage Park. The rides will be great fun in the open sided cars, as you experience something you can’t do anywhere else (at least not in our area), take a ride on a “Speeder Train” and see the scenery from an entirely new point of view. This new attraction will leave from the platform of the Mac Norris Station March 11-19, and has a capacity of up to 12 passengers each trip. Price is just $5 / $12 family of four.

WCRA News, Page 26 Our new speeder “train” will have three cars. On each end will be a powered unit with a six seat trailer car in the middle. Certified railway operators will operate the train, which will meet all safety requirements required under the BC Safety Authority. So, come on out, climb aboard, buckle up and have a unique ride experience.

This M-4 Fairmont Motorcar was originally Canadian National #186-52 and has been fully rebuilt from the ground up. The car was recently purchased by WCRA member (and Board chair) Craig McDowall and is on its way to the Heritage Park. The motorcar is ready to go, and is powered by a Ford 4 cylinder engine / transmission. Capacity is Operator and four passengers. Now you can experience the way railway maintenance of way people patrolled the tracks! At the Heritage Park, work is

also well along on the restoration of a similar M-4 unit (of BC Rail heritage) as well as an unpowered trailer car (similar to the M-4’s but without a motor). Our volunteers and staff have been plugging away on this project, and the M-4 has been started and run. In the Randy Shimell photo right we see one of the units after sandblasting as it is being prepared for service. Singh Biln is preparing the operator certification process and expects to qualify several operators by the end of February. If you are interested, call Singh at 604-898-9336. (S.B.)

WCRA News, Page 27 PACIFIC GREAT EASTERN / BC RAIL EXHIBIT Troop Sleeper PGE #710 and baggage-express PGE #722 have been emptied of their contents in preparation for staffer Donna Fourchalk’s project to develop a display car honoring employees of PGE/BCR. On February 2nd, Donna scheduled a meeting of ex-BCR retirees to kick-off the project. Participants will assist in displaying memorabilia in the sleeper car for now but will transfer to the baggage-express once that that car has been re-trucked, painted and readied. Donna expects many retirees to bring their own photos, stories and artifacts for display. This will be another addition to the display cars on the Garden Tracks at the Heritage Park and is expected to open Summer 2006. (S.B.) Donna reports, “Thank you to the Troopers , Tom Bruvall, John Jellis, Gary Turner, and our staff Tomoo, Dave, and Kevin Smith for empting the Troop Sleepers 710, and 722 with Trevor Mills guiding us with the different archives”. Donna continues, “Well its official, the P.G.E. / B.C.R. project has begun. We had a meeting at 11:00 a.m. February 2, 2006 with a turn out of 31 people in attendance. It will be a true adventure and we are all very excited about it. We hope to have the 710 car ready for summer this year, and will give an update on 722 once we begin that car. Thank you to everyone who attended. We will get the word out a month ahead for any future meetings/work parties”. (D.F.)

FEATURE ARTICLES EVANS RIDES THE RAILS TO “BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR” - by Squamish Chief Reporter Cassidy Oliver and Sherry Elchuk Heritage Park Executive Wins Chamber Honour Don Evans said it came as a surprise to be named Squamish’s 2005 “Business Person of the Year” award at the Squamish Chamber’s 72nd President’s Banquet and AGM last week. But with a track record like his, it must have been hard not to think it was in the bag. As Executive Director of the West Coast Railway Association, Evans has been a key figure in the development of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish and its subsequent success since first opening to the public in 1994. The Park currently boasts 45,000 visitors a year. “I had no idea I had even been nominated until it was announced, so surprised is the right word – surprised and a feeling of great honour,” Evans says.

WCRA News, Page 28 Evans grabbed top business honours on Saturday night (Jan. 28) over fellow businessmen Adam Hart of Clear Impact Consulting and Geoff Park of Camp Summit, but was quick to play down the win and congratulate the other nominees. “For anyone to be nominated for business person of the year I think is recognition of contribution to the business community as well as a worthiness for being considered for the award,” he says. (photo left, Matt Christianson) Evans says the Heritage Park has experienced steady growth since opening, contributing

more than $10 million in economic impact to the community through direct and indirect spin-offs. “That’s done in a whole variety of ways but the most direct ones are obviously employing people, purchasing materials and supplies and contracting for construction,” he said. “And then the other side of it is the operations side, the people that come and pay the admissions to visit the Heritage Park attraction. Those funds go to employ the people that do the gift shop and the guest services and run the miniature train and all of those kinds of things. “So I guess the net of it is we raise a lot of our funds from outside of the community, but we spend them all within Squamish.” And raised money he has. This past spring, Evans announced the Park had received a provincial grant of $2 million and a matching $2 million private donor contribution which will be used in the construction of a new Roundhouse and Conference Centre to be completed in 2007. Evans says the new facilities will tie in perfectly with the 2010 Winter Olympics, providing not only an economic boost to local businesses but additional draws for tourists. “We see ourselves as integral to the business community,” he said. “When people come and visit the West Coast Railway Heritage Park more often than not they’ll also stop and eat at a restaurant or pick up something at a store, so when you bring 45,000 people in a year to the community it turns into business for many others in the business community as well. And

WCRA News, Page 29 that’s going to continue.” With the continued development in the Park, Evans estimates annual visitor numbers will hit 75,000 by 2008. Denise Imbeau, manager of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, says Evans has made a huge contribution to the community. “From the Chamber’s perspective when we have visitors here, they get an excellent quality visit at a first class railway museum,” she said. “And Don has been a huge part of that. He was absolutely deserving of the award.” Sherry Elchuk, general manager of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, agrees. Elchuk has worked with Evans for five and a half years and describes him as “a wonderful visionary. I respect him, I admire him and I’ve learned a lot from him,” says Elchuk. “He’s worked really hard behind the scenes to help create a world class attraction.” Meanwhile, Evans says there isn’t a single thing he would rather be doing than working with the West Coast Railway Association and the Squamish community. “This is a great project and I’ve seen it come a long way and hope to see it go much further,” he said. “Squamish has been supportive to us from day one, and continues to be very supportive - both the business community and the council. It’s a delightful place to be.” THE CPR’S “ALYTH ROUNDHOUSE” -- CALGARY. By Bill Yeats.

WCRA News, Page 30 This picture (Page 29), from the files of Lance Camp, was taken in the 1940’s from near the top of the large coal chute looking toward the North West. The peaked roof in the foreground is that of the two sided sand-house tower in which dried sand was stored for yard and road steam locomotives. The sand was poured down pipes into the sand domes and cab bunkers of engines below. These sand domes were located on top of the engine’s boilers where the sand would stay warm and dry until needed to increase the traction on wet or slippery rails. The sand in the cab bunkers of oil burning engines is poured into the combustion chamber of the firebox to blast the soot out of the boiler flues when the engine is being worked hard. In the right background is “Alyth” overpass which crosses over the main line tracks and the west end of the yard. It is now replaced by a four lane concrete structure that is part of a main road called the “Blackfoot Trail”. Looking at the tracks, from left to right, the first two are storage tracks where wood slabs are unloaded and stored as well as where several box cars are kept to store various other supplies required in the steam shop. The wooden slabs are used to light up the fires in all coal burning locomotives after they have been serviced. The next track holds two box cars loaded with low grade boiler coal for the steam plant under the tall smoke stack and the four tankers contain fuel oil which is emptied into a sump located below the rails. From there the oil is piped under the next three tracks then pumped up into the large steel fuel oil tank where it can be used to fill the fuel bunkers of oil burning locomotives before they head west on the Laggan Subdivision. There were no oil burners used in any other direction out of Calgary at this time. Tracks four, five, and six were called “the yard side of the shop tracks and the first two are where locomotives used in yard service are kept ready to go to work in any of the over twenty assignments in each twenty four hour period, seven days each week. The next track (6) is where in-coming yard locomotives are spotted, over the deep ash pit, to have their fires cleaned after their tenders have been filled with water and coal on the way past the water stand-pipe and coal chute. The only time yard power in placed in the steam shop is when they need to have work done on them (boiler washouts etc.) otherwise they are stored on tracks 4 and 5 and they are lubricated then watched by the hostler and his helper. The two locomotives on track five are both “V 4” (0-8-0’) 6900’s or “M4” 3400’s. Standing on track six in the foreground is a small “U 3” (0-6-0) 6200 and behind it is a former road locomotive a “M2” (2-8-0) 3600 that has been converted for yard service. The vee shaped number board plus the classification lights on either side of the smoke stack and electric style headlight is a dead giveaway. Behind the 3600 is another (2-8-0) “M4” 3400. These yard locomotives are all coal burners. The two oil burning “R2” (2-10-0) decapods, assigned to Alyth, are missing from this photo because they are probably both at work on the hump or some other heavy transfer job.

WCRA News, Page 31 The seventh track that holds two old boxcars (note the dangerous, broken roof running board) and four “Heart” convertible gondolas runs under the coal chute, where coal is unloaded into a bin under the rails ready to be elevated up to the top level of that high structure. The track then runs past the sand house then down, at least six feet below shop track level where laborers can shovel the hot ashes into the gondola cars. Both of the tracks on either side of the ash pit are elevated about four feet above the concrete platforms from which the workers can do their ash shoveling. The track to the right of the ash pit is the incoming road shop track and there are four coal burning locomotives on it. The first two have had their fires dumped and are each ready to proceed over the wash rack and be placed on the turntable and from there into one of the thirty-six stalls of “Alyth Roundhouse”. These four engines have had their tenders filled and the sand domes topped up and, after servicing in the shop, their fires will be relit and they will then be moved south eastward out toward the coal chute on the next (outgoing) shop track. The tenders will be filled with coal and water and the supply man will watch them until their crews arrive to take them off the shop track and to their trains. On the next track, which curves to the right past the oil tank there are five water cars, three of them steel and two wooden ones. These are used behind some of the smaller locomotives assigned to “way freight” and “mixed train” service where their water is used to fill the cisterns at the maintenance of way men’s (section men’s) homes and also to supplement the locomotive’s tender water supply. The last sharply curving track at the very right of the picture leads around to the north end of the “Back shop” and is used to bring car-loads of supplies such as locomotive parts like boiler tubes, spare wheels, water pumps etc. for engines being repaired in that newest addition to the roundhouse. There is smoke coming out of the roof chimney above a locomotive in pit number 34 and it’s probably from a “Royal Hudson” passenger engine that is being readied for it’s evening start of the nine hundred mile run from Calgary to Winnipeg. There is probably another Hudson and Pacific in nearby stalls, which will also be lit up ready to power their eastbound passenger trains. After these three engines have been moved out of the longest pits in Alyth shop, two, or three, even larger, “Selkirk” locomotives that have brought the eastbound passenger trains in from Revelstoke will fill their places and shop crews and wipers will start to prepare them for the three morning westbound passenger trains leaving for Vancouver on the west coast. The next picture (cover ), also from the files of Lance Camp, was taken in the late 1940’s and shows, from left to right, the front corner of a “T1b” 5900 Selkirk locomotive that has just arrived from Revelstoke B.C. with a passenger train. (Note the snowplough pilot).

WCRA News, Page 32 It will have its sand reservoirs filled but will not be fueled, unless required, until after it is serviced in the roundhouse and ready to leave for the west. There is no coal fire to be dumped, of course, from this oil burner. Under the coal chute the tender of a coal burning Mikado is being filled by the hostler’s helper then the fire will be dumped at the ash pit, the locomotive will be washed, then it will be run onto the turntable and into the roundhouse for it’s servicing and preparation for the return trip West. In the center of this picture, under the water tank, there are two outgoing locomotives on the departure track and the first appears to be a branch line freight engine that is going either north to Red Deer or south to Fort Macleod after this 2367, an eastbound this “G3” Pacific gets out of it’s way. The Pacific’s fireman is dumping a few ashes and making sure that his ash pans are tightly closed while the engineer is oiling the cross head guide bars or the little end of the main rod connection. By the color of the smoke it appears that the fire is being built up. This fast running Pacific is possibly going to take the fast “stock train” east and, unless it is delayed enroute, it will run ahead of passenger trains Numbers four and eight all the way to Medicine Hat.

This third Lance Camp picture was taken at a later date because behind the “N2” class 3600 consolidation yard engine, seen on the left, can be seen the top of a, newly installed, large mechanical ash loader that straddles a steel, bottom dump, hopper car that is being filled with watered down hot ashes. The escalator style steel chain of plates carries these ashes from under the incoming road side shop track, the incoming yard side track plus under the next two yard tracks before it rises sharply up to clear the hopper car that receives the ashes. This loader saved an awful lot of heavy shoveling on the part of the laborers that were previously required to perform this duty. The picture was obviously taken during the spring run off when all the ice was melting and the water was running toward the east.

WCRA News, Page 33 The water standpipe on the yard side as well as the coal chute show up well in this picture, as does the coal-unloading track running through the large coal storage facility. The chute for fueling yard power is sticking out to the left, behind the standpipe and there are a total of four chutes on the roadside to the right as seen in the previous picture. Two chutes are under the storage tower above the incoming shop track as well as two more over the outgoing shop track to the right of the structure. Locomotive number 5440, a “P2” Mikado 2-8-2, next to the empty coal cars has just arrived from Field, B.C. 136 miles west of Calgary. It’s tender is being filled with water then coal and sand will be supplied before the engine is moved westward to above the ash conveyor where the fire will be completely dumped, and the ashes watered down to extinguish all the flames. This engine will again be moved further west to the rack where it will be washed down before it is put on the turn-table and lined up for a suitable empty roundhouse stall where it will receive further cleaning. Once inside the roundhouse, while wipers complete their cleaning job, shop machinists and pipe fitters will give the locomotive a complete going over and repair any faults while other shop laborers grease and oil the parts required as well as fill the oil reservoirs that supply lubrication to steam cylinders, friction bearings and numerous other wear surfaces. Boiler repair employees will open up the smoke box for inspection plus they will climb inside the firebox, when it has cooled down, to inspect and seal any leaking stay bolts and boiler tubes and inspect the firebrick arch and replace any bricks as needed. They will also inspect the firebox grates and control rods. All this work will probably take several hours and then, when ordered, the fire can be relit and a road crew called ready for a return trip west to Field. Locomotive 2388, a “G3” Pacific 4-6-2, under the water tank spout has it’s coal hopper full and is all ready to take a passenger train either north to Edmonton or east to Medicine Hat after running light for three miles west to Calgary’s depot. It has a full head of steam and is ready to go as indicated by the exhaust from the pop valve behind the steam dome on top of the boiler. These photographs, that were taken by my brother Floyd, bring back many memories of days gone by but all of us locomotive engineers and firemen looked forward to working on the new nice clean diesel electric locomotives as they replaced those cold, noisy, dirty, dusty steam monsters.

RAILWAY NEWS DINER CHANGES COMING As part of its move towards “Operational Savings”, Amtrak will be progressively implementing changes to its diner and lounge facilities on long distance trains. Most evident

WCRA News, Page 34 will be the conversion of SuperLiner lounges and diners as they are today into combination diner-lounge cars. During “off season” each train will have one car and will offer continuous lounge (no more specific meal times) and food service. Meals will be plated off train and will be convection heated, rather than prepared fresh on board. Peak season will still find two cars on bigger trains, one being based on a Sightseer Lounge conversion, the other on a SuperLiner Diner conversion. (B.L.)

CN / BNSF TRACKAGE DEALS SEE BURNABY MAINLINE OPERATIONS COME TO CN

MONTREAL, and FORT WORTH, Tex., Jan. 19, 2006 -- CN and BNSF Railway Company announced today an agreement focused on improving rail network fluidity and infrastructure capacity, principally in Vancouver, B.C., Chicago, and between Memphis and southern Illinois. The agreement includes track and rail infrastructure exchanges between the railroads, and CN's grant of trackage, haulage and other access rights to BNSF Railway. Highlights of the agreement are: - In Vancouver, B.C., CN will obtain operational, dispatching and maintenance control of 12 miles of joint track between the Fraser River Bridge in New Westminster, B.C., and ocean terminals on the south shore of Burrard Inlet near downtown Vancouver. This trackage also connects CN's network with its north shore terminals, customers and the former BC Rail. - In Chicago, BNSF will obtain operational, dispatching and maintenance control of CN's Corwith Tower interlocker, and obtain trackage rights on CN for 30 miles between Corwith and Joliet, Ill., and on two miles of CN's 49th Street line. - BNSF will obtain trackage rights on CN's main lines between Memphis and southern Illinois. CN will also transfer its Memphis interlocker to BNSF. Matthew K. Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said: "These agreements provide BNSF with increased capacity and dispatching efficiencies in Chicago and Memphis. In addition, we now can tap CN's surplus capacity between Memphis and Centralia, Ill., to expand our ability to handle more traffic." E. Hunter Harrison, CN's president and chief executive officer, said: "These agreements are smart railroading: CN's track and rail infrastructure sharing agreements with BNSF Railway are creative means of improving network fluidity and increasing traffic density on our system. Our lease of the Joint Section in Vancouver will improve the fluidity of rail operations for all railroads in Vancouver, and improve key rail service to Vancouver Ports and Terminals on the South and North Shores." (J.M.) And that’s not the end of the changes, as CN and CPR shortly after announced changes to shared operations serving the Greater Vancouver area.

WCRA News, Page 35 VANCOUVER, B.C., Jan. 26, 2006 - CN and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) announced today they have reached an agreement that will make rail operations more fluid in the Lower Mainland, enhancing service for rail customers and supporting the growth of Pacific Gateway ports and terminals. The changes are expected to begin March 2006. The agreement includes a series of significant operational initiatives that will improve the flow of freight to and from the port by operating direct-to-destination trains that bypass yards and eliminating railway-to-railway handoffs. It will also extend the railways' existing directional running zone in the Fraser Canyon west to the Gateway ports and terminals. Under the agreement: - CPR will handle all trains of both railways from Boston Bar, 60 kilometres north of Hope, B.C., and 200 kilometres from Vancouver, to Vancouver's South Shore using CPR train crews. CPR will also improve the coordination of train movements and will switch all traffic into and out of terminals on Burrard Inlet South Shore. - CN will handle all trains of both railways from Boston Bar to Burrard Inlet North Shore in Vancouver using CN crews. CN will also improve the coordination of traffic switched into and out of terminals on the North Shore. - CPR will also handle coal trains of both railways from Boston Bar to the Roberts Bank coal port, helping improve efficiency for coal terminal operator, Westshore Terminals. CN and CPR have a long-established directional running zone extending west of Ashcroft to Mission, B.C., in the Fraser Canyon. All westbound trains of both railways operate over the CN line, and all eastbound trains of both railways operate over the CPR line, improving operational fluidity over the 240-kilometre zone. CN BUYS RAIL AMERICA’S ALBERTA PROPERTIES Eyeing growth in the Alberta oil sands, CN is paying $26 million for three Alberta short-line railways owned by Rail America of Boca Raton, FL. Rail America may also receive up to $4M in future payments, depending on development of new business on the railways, CN said. Together, the railways carried about 50,000 carloads of freight last year and employed about 130 people. CN is buying the 966-kilometre Mackenzie Northern Railway and the 190-kilometre Lakeland & Waterways Railway, both north of Edmonton. Also included in the deal is the Central Western Railway, a 34-kilometre railway in east-central Alberta that is used largely for training purposes and also carries a small amount of agricultural traffic. Except for a small part of the CWR, all the lines connect with CN's network. "Operating the L&WR will strengthen CN's connection to the Alberta oil sands, while the MKNR component will allow CN to participate directly in the proposed natural gas pipeline projects and give the

WCRA News, Page 36 company access to modern online grain elevators and pulp plants,'' the railway said in a release. Interestingly, most of these lines were once part of CN in the past. (J.M.) MOTIVE POWER NOTES CN’s new EMD SD70-2’s have been delivered and are operating here in the west. Watch for these 8000 series units in mainline service between Edmonton and Vancouver. The new low emission units have unusual features, including high mounted headlights and number board above the cab and different sounding air horns…...An all GMDD power consist headed train 10731 24 west—departing Edmonton with GP40-2W 9437 / BCOL SD40-2 752 and adding two more GP40-2W’s at Jasper, #9449 and 9581……Train G 83541 Jan. 24 operated Thornton—Chilliwack and back with CN SD40-2W 5381 and BNSF 328 (a “B” unit) for power. (J.M.) CN FINANCIALS RUN HIGH CN had it best year ever financially in 2005, attributing its success to increased freight rates, a fuel surcharge, addition of the former BC Rail and Great Lakes Transportation operations, and achieved an improved operating ratio of 63.8%. Revenues rose 11% to $7.24 billion, with net income up 24% to $1.54 billion. CN will split its stock again on February 28, 2006—the third split since the IPO in 1995. CN will hold its annual meeting in Memphis, TN this year—the first time the meeting has been held outside Canada. (SDHSE)

RICHMOND ACQUIRES CPR LINE The City of Richmond has reached a deal with CPR to acquire the Van Horne Spur in that city, for the purpose of re-aligning

and upgrading road infrastructure in the area. The section acquired is from Number 2 Road to Capstan Way, and will result in realignment of River Road and, ultimately, a new loop road. Work is underway to lift rails from Number 2 Road to Gilbert this month. The Van Horne Spur will eventually be completely closed, but will remain for some years yet, the railway says, to service one of two manufacturing customers. The spur runs from the bridge over the North Arm of the Fraser River along the river shore on its south side, across Bridgeport Road (at the Airport bridges east side) and to the industrial area. (J.M.) HOLIDAY TRAINS SET RECORD The CPR’s annual Holiday Trains (two of them) set a record with their 2005 operations, collecting 206 tons of food and $515,331 cash for local charities and food banks. (SDHSE)

WCRA News, Page 37 WHISTLER MOUNTAINEER TO FEATURE HERITAGE OPEN CAR Rocky Mountaineer Vacations new Whistler

Mountaineer train is getting set to start operations May 1 between North Vancouver and Whistler. While the train will feature newly rebuilt GP40-2 locomotives (see last issue), there will be a familiar piece of equipment on the train—West Coast Railway’s open observation car Henry Pickering. The train consist is expected to be locomotive (s) , power car, two “Coast Classic” coaches, open observation car Henry Pickering, and two “Glacier Dome” glass topped cars. Departures will be from North Vancouver at 0830 and return departure from Whistler at 1430, with daily service set for May 1 through October 16, 2006. Fares will be $99 one way / $179 round trip for Coast Classic and $169 one way / $289 round trip for Glacier Dome. Children's’ fares are also available, and both classes include food service on board in each direction. RMV has a new DVD out that highlights all of their services for 2006.

CABOOSES GO SOUTH Two of Southern Railway of British Columbia’s unique

steel cabooses have headed south to operate on Montana Rail Link. Cabooses A 4 and A 7 were shipped on flatcars minus trucks. The pair are two of a fleet of seven built for the BC Hydro Railway in 1968 by Polygon Industries. Four remain on the roster at SRY—A 2, A 3, A 5 and A 6, while A 1 was sold in 1995. (SDHSE)

WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE EXPANDS VIA has expanded its wireless internet service on VIA 1 trains between Toronto and Montreal, as well as in its VIA 1 lounges at Montreal, Toronto, Dorval and Kingston. The permanent service

is now available on a pay per use basis after a free trial period to test its viability. (VL) GLENFRASER CAR TO NIAGARA The former BC Rail lounge car GlenFraser (from the Whistler Northwind) is now in operation on VIA summer departures between Toronto and Niagara Falls. The car features wine tasting and local cheeses along with card games and other activities. (VL) CHRISTMAS DAY—VIA’s Canadian from Vancouver on Dec. 25 had a tough time. A make up train of coaches and sleepers was to meet the westbound consist terminated at Kamloops by a slide on CN. But then another slide on CPR east of Agassiz ended that plan.

WCRA News, Page 38 SKYTRAIN TURNS 20, VCC CLARK STATION OPEN

Vancouver’s Skytrain system marked its 20th anniversary in January. Although the actual date was January 3, the event was formally marked with a celebration at the new VCC Clark Station on Thursday, January 26th. The system

first carried the public on December 11, 1985 when free trial rides were started, with formal operating service beginning January 3, 1986. The 20th anniversary was marked by a special overlay colour scheme applied to Mark II cars 207/208 (above, Colin Dathan photo). The official celebration was held at the newest Skytrain station in service, the new VCC Clark station on the Millennium Line. At right we see some of the notables in the crowd, BC’s Transportation minister Kevin Falcon (left) and Rapid Transit 2000 President (and WCRA Director) Colin Smith with the 20 year display in the background. Vancouver’s Skytrain is the longest ALRT system in the world, at 49.5 km, and rapid transit continues to expand rapidly in Greater Vancouver. Under construction now is the new Canada Line between Vancouver Waterfront and Richmond / YVR, scheduled to open for service in 2009. Soon to start construction is the Evergreen Line, which will feature LRT from Lougheed Mall to Coquitlam City Hall.

Kicking Horse Tea Room—new release now available at hobby shops and fine galleries, or through the West Coast Railway Heritage Park gift shop.

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CREDIT LINES ISSN 1204-072X Vol. 45 Issue 3 Editor Don Evans Distribution Jeremy Davy & Donna Simon Contributors: S.B. Singh Biln M.C. Matt Christianson C.D. Colin Dathan J.D. Jeremy Davy S.E. Sherry Elchuk D.F. Donna Fourchalk H.F. Hugh Fraser B.J. Bill Johnston B.L. Bill Lahr J.M. Jim McPherson J.P. Jim Pittendreigh SDHSE Sandhouse (CRHA) VL ViaLogue

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Contact us: Tours 604-524-1011 / 800-722-1233 Heritage Park 604-898-9336 Office 604-681-4403 TRIVIA ANSWER The Harbour Grace Railway’s last spike was driven by Prince George, later to become King George V. He was visiting Newfoundland at the time as a midshipman aboard H.M.S Cumberland.